Central High School - Red and Black Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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3 sf! -r '. 5, nl 'ai4gf'1 nn.,- ambition. This was in the heyday of educational expansion. That eminent pioneer, Dr. William T. Harris, had become Superintendent of Schools: and Miss Susan Blow, also of national fame, had been instrumental in establishing the first kindergartens. Some schools still lacked one: and Mrs. Fischel was assigned to one of these in North St. Louis, a neighborhood of foreigners, where she was taxed to handle a primary class of ninety-three children of six years of age, none of whom could speak or understand English. That proved her mettle. After marriage in 1876 to one who had been a schoolmate, Dr. Washington E. Fischel, she remained active in her chosen Held in various ways. In time she became a social visitor for the Provident Association, and as such developed a deep sympathy for the needy, and an under- standing of their deplorable lot. This led her in 1888 to enlist for service in the Wage-Earners' Self-Culture Clubs, just started by Walter L. Sheldon, the Leader of the newly established Ethical Society. She organized a Domestic Economy Section to instruct the children of these wage-earners in Home-Making. It flourished and drew wide attention: and, largely owing to its influence, this subject was introduced into the public schools with the service of a teacher who had been trained under Mrs. Fischel's guidance. From this time on Mrs. Fischel devoted herself to one welfare movement after another. She was one of the founders of the Wednesday Club: was active in the Emergency Aid, organ- ized to meet the needs of the unemployed after the closing of the Chicago World's Fair: at the same time served as Chairman of the Board of Charity Commissioners fa civic servicel prior to the adoption of the present City Charter: participated in Red Cross and other rescue work. All this may suggest to some the absentee wife and mother. By no means. Mrs. Fischel was busier with home-making than any of her pupils, and was nurturing three sons, two of whom have become distinguished doctors, and a daughter who is a leader among public-spirited women. She exemplified the adage that charity, like the other virtues, begins at home: and has demonstrated that private and public service may go hand in hand. ' All honor, then to the agencies that had a share in the maturing of such a personality: among which Mrs. Fischel accords, we know, a place of honor to the High School of her treasured memories. Ewan!! .5'+Ng'gh.'v5h'+,v. mNN

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Alt' I P gt .fy Cgzefcla O! ffm life of MRS. WASHINGTCN E. FISCHEL Where were you educated? To this familiar question Mrs. Fischel might answer, accord- ing to the facts obtained from her by this reporter, somewhat as follows: A'My education began at birth on May 25, 1850, in the little town of Iackson, Mississippi, under the direction of my mother, whom I lost by her untimely death when I was five years old, It was then continued on a plantation nearby, under the care of an aunt and uncle and a personal attendant Qwith no white playmateslg and was supplemented from time to time by memorable excursions on the river boats, when my father took me with him on his business trips to St, Louis. Then I was helped by attending a private school in the town until I was ten years old, when my father determined to settle in St. Louis. There I entered a public school, the old Eliot School at 15th and Pine streets, where my education was colored by the agitations of the Civil War, a source of strife in the school. My first efforts in social service were, in this connection, the making of articles for sale at the numerous money-raising fairs in behalf of the Sanitary Commission. In 1864 I entered Central High School, the only high school in St. Louis, and indeed on this side of the Mississippi. Here in 1868 I was graduated in a class of twentyffive girls and thirteen boys. I was especially fortunate in my teachers, several of whom won later distinction in Eastern colleges. So far the early story in brief, which we may carry forward by recording that Mrs. Fischel retains a warm sense of gratitude for what she received at Central. The facts attest that she was very teachable, and was inspired by the ambition to teach, She soon began to gratify her

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Murillo Studio Dr. Henry J. Gerling Superintendent of Instruction :vvvvvvvvvvvvvvwvveeer:-:::ee-:-:::::::::::+v-::: rl-r :e:::.-:::.-e: - -:-:::-:4vvvvvx:::-:::-:-reee.-e: -Q::ee:e::ereerereare:-e::e::::